Grip for cables



(No Mode1.`\

C.AT. NORTON 81: E. D. RUSHING. GRIP FOR CABLES.

Patenteeb. 8, 1898.

figa-i MHH u CHARLES rr. NORTON AND nvAN D. RUSHING, OF sORIBNER, CALIFORNIA.

GRIP FOR CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,741, dated February' 8, 1898.

Application nea rune II, 1897.

.'Zfo a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES T. NORTON and EVAN D. RUSHING, citizens of the United States, residing at Scribner, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Grip for Cables, dto., of which the following is a specification.

y The invention relates to improvements in grips for cables, ropes, and the like.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of rope and ,cable grips and to provide a simple and efficient device designed especially for use in connec- -tion with cables for hauling -logs to a common center and capable of automatically gripping a cable and of retaining its grip on the same when the strain is in either direction to prevent logs, when hauled downhill, from being automatically and accidentally released by reversing the strain through moving forward faster than .the cable.

A further object of the invention is to enable a single cable to extend the entire length of a load of logs and to have each of the latter connected to it and to provide a grip capable of enabling logs to be readily coupled toa cable without necessitating the arrangement of the logs in any particular position relative to the cable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will enable a cable to be slackened after stopping in order to facilitate an easy start by enabling the logs to be successively started.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is aperspective view of a grip constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 ,is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the upper or outer wedge. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the inner or lower wedge.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several iigures of the drawings.

l designates a frame or easing provided with a longitudinal recess or opening and composed of a bottom portion and parallel Serial No. 640,368. (No model.)

sides provided at their upper edges with. ribs 2, arranged on the inner faces of the sides and contractingthe opening of the top or outer edges thereof. The frame or casing receives upper and lower wedges 3 and 4, provided at their adjacent faces with longitudinal grooves 5 and 6 and capable o f alimited sliding movement longitudinally ofI the frame orcasing for engaging and clampinga rope or cable, which is received in the open* ing formed by said grooves.

The lower or inner wedge tapers rearwardly and is provided at its rear end with an eX- teriorly-arranged lug 7, which limits the forward movement of the wedge and forms a stop for engaging the rear end of the frame l or casing. p

The upper or outer wedge 3, which tapers toward its front end, is provided at opposite sides with longitudinal recesses 8 for the reception of the ribs 2, which form guides for the upper or outer slide. The longitudinal movement of the upper or outer slide is limited by a transverse pin` 9, which passesl through perforations of the sides of the frame Y or casing and through a longitudinal slot 10 of the wedge 3.

The upper orouter Wedge engages the rope or cable and is held iirmly pressed against the same by the head strain on the cable, and should the strain be reversed by reason of a log moving downhill faster than the cable v both wedges will move rearward until the transverse pin 9 engages the front end of the slot l0, when the inner or lower wedge will act on the cable.

The lower portion of the frame or casing is provided with transverse perforations 11, through which passes a link 12, and the latter is adapted to be readily coupled to a log by means of a grab-iron or grapple of anydesired construction.

The upper wedge 3 is provided at its outer face with an enlargement or boss 13, adapted to form a striking-surface, so that the Wedge may be driven back after the cable has stopped, so as to loosen or slacken the cable and permit the logs to be successively started, thereby making an easier start.

The grip is adapted to engage a cable at any desired point, the cable being introduced into the frame or casing through the open top thereof. The logs are readily attached to a cable without necessitating any particular arrangement of them relative to the same, and each grip is only subjected to the weight and strain of its respective log and is not affected by the weight of the other logs. The cable extends the entire length of the load of logs, and any number of the latter may be connected to it, as only one cable is necessary for hauling a load of logs.

It will be seen that the device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it forms a grip which is adapted to hold a cable or rope when the strain is in either direction, and that it will enable a cable to be readily slaclrened to facilitate an easy start.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

'What we claim isl. A device of the class described, comprising a frame or casing, an upper longitudinal wedge slidingly mounted in the frame or casing and tapering toward one end of the same so as to be operated by a rope or cable moving in one direction, a lower longitudinal wedge tapering toward the other end of the frame or casing and capable of movement therein, whereby it is adapted to be operated by a rope or cable moving in the direction opposite that which operates the upper wedge so that the rope or cable will be clamped when moved in either direction, substantially as described. Y

2. A device of the class described comprising a frame or casing, the upper and lower oppositely-tapered wedges provided at their adjacent faces with grooves to receive a rope or cable and arranged to be operated to clamp a rope or cable by movement of the same in either direction, and means for limiting the 3. A device of the class described com' prising a frame or casing, an inner or lower slide arranged within the casing and tapered to form a wedge, said slide being provided at its rear end with an exteriorly-arranged stop to limit its forward movement, an upper wedge provided with a longitudinal slot, and a pin mounted on the frame or casing and passing through the said slot, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising a frame or casing havinga longitudinal opening and provided at the inner faces of its sides with longitudinal ribs, a lower wedge provided with a stop to limit its forward movement, and an upper wedge provided at its sides with recesses to receive the said ribs and having a boss or enlargement, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described comprising a frame or body provided with transverse perforations and having a longitudinal opening, a link having its sides arranged in the perforations of the frame or body, a rearwardly-tapered wedge arranged within the frame or body and provided at its rear edge with an eXteriorly-arran ged lug, a forwardlytapered wedge slidingly connected with the frame or body and provided with a longitudinal slot, and a pin passing through the sides of the frame or body and through the slot of the wedge, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES T. NORTON. EVAN D. RUSHING.

Witnesses:

HERBERT CHRISTIE, JOHAN ANDERssoN. 

